By John Dobberstein, Editor
WAGONER — Wagoner County District Attorney Jack Thorp has asked Wagoner police to do additional investigation into residency issues surrounding Patrick Sampson’s bid for a seat on the Wagoner County Board of Commissioners.
Last week, Thorp’s office declined to file charges after investigating allegations that Sampson did not live in within the boundaries of District 3 for the seat Sampson is pursuing. But the recent emergence of a mortgage document caused Thorp to re-open the case.
David Greeno, another candidate who unsuccessfully ran for District 3, filed a complaint with the Wagoner County Election Board last spring alleging Sampson lived at an address in far northern Wagoner rather than his late mother’s house in Coweta, as Sampson claimed.
The Wagoner address Sampson had been citing doesn’t fall within the boundaries of District 3, but rather in District 2. When asked about this Sampson showed the Sentinel his voter registration address, which he used to file for office, which is in the 15700 block of S. 297th East Avenue in Coweta.
At the hearing, Sampson said he moved to Coweta but traveled to Wagoner frequently for family activities. Thorp said his office declined to prosecute Sampson because available evidence was, “insufficient to ethically establish every required element of a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
“That prior decision was not a factual determination that Mr. Sampson did or did not reside at any particular location, nor was it intended to resolve any separate civil, municipal, election, or school-residency issue.”
But Monday, Thorp said a mortgage document showing Sampson’s address on 1701 Red Oak Road in Wagoner was not available during the original charging review.
In a Monday letter to Wagoner Police Chief Bob Haley, Thorp wrote he wanted officers to conduct additional investigation concerning Sampson’s testimony at the Election Board hearing and, “whether subsequently developed evidence establishes probably cause that Mr. Sampson committed perjury during that proceeding.”
Questions with CPS
“Investigators have been asked to review the newly developed evidence together with the prior Wagoner investigation, information developed by the Coweta Police Department, and supplemental investigative information obtained by District Attorney Investigator Eric Helms,” Thorp said in a statement.
“If the completed investigation establishes probable cause concerning a specifically identifiable material statement made under oath, the matter will be presented to this Office for further charging review.”
Thorp added that Coweta police continue to investigate, “recently developed matters involving residency representations associated with Coweta Public Schools. The prior charging declination did not encompass that investigation.”
Thorp’s letter to Wagoner police outlines the following events:
• Sampson declared the Coweta residence in connection with his candidacy for Wagoner County Commissioner District 3 and subsequently testified concerning his residency on April 13.
• A May 6 Coweta Public Schools enrollment/residency packet reportedly identified the original Coweta property as his child’s current address and reflected approximately one year at that address.
• An Aug. 11 Coweta Public Schools Student Residency Questionnaire subsequently identified “COWETA SISTER ADDRESS” as the child’s current address, identified Patrick Sampson as the child’s father, and reportedly stated that they had been at that address for approximately three months and that the arrangement was not temporary.
• Immediately preceding those August 11 representations, Patrick and Katie Sampson acquired residential property in Broken Arrow.
• The recorded mortgage identifies Patrick Sampson and Katie Sampson, husband and wife, as borrowers and reflects a note dated Aug. 7. The mortgage identifies the Broken Arrow property as the property securing the loan.
“The timing and nature of that transaction create an additional objective source against which Mr. Sampson’s prior and contemporaneous residency representations may be evaluated,” Thorp wrote.
Thorp said Monday the investigations are not political and his office, “will not be used for political purposes, nor will the criminal justice process be used to influence the election for Wagoner County Commissioner District 3.
“We will not take any action for the purpose of supporting, opposing, benefiting, or disadvantaging any candidate. Just as importantly, we will endeavor to ensure that our actions cannot reasonably be interpreted as an endorsement of or opposition to any candidate.”
He added timing of an election, “will neither cause this Office to pursue a criminal charge that is unsupported by the evidence nor prevent this Office from investigating credible evidence of potential criminal conduct.”
‘Downright Sick’
The Sentinel reached out to Sampson about the recent developments and did not receive an immediate response.
In an open letter posted to his Facebook page Monday, before Thorp’s announcement about the investigation being re-opened, Sampson reiterated that no charges arose from the original allegations involving his residency, service on the Wagoner City Council, the insurance benefits provided during that service, and his Election Board testimony.
Sampson said investigators reviewed police reports, Election Board materials, court filings, probate records, utility records, governmental records, municipal records, witness statements, social media communications and other evidence before Thorp’s office made its initial decision that Sampson didn’t knowingly make a materially false statement, committed fraud or perjury, improperly received public benefits, or violated another criminal statute.
“The investigation also found no evidence that I fabricated my attendance, submitted false claims for compensation, or secretly exercised governmental authority, Sampson said. “The Election Board previously heard testimony, reviewed evidence and ruled that I satisfied the residency requirements for my candidacy.
“My wife, my children, and other members of my family have been followed and photographed. People have monitored and discussed their locations, talked about where my children were, and discussed who they were with. My wife and children are not candidates for public office. They should never have been followed, photographed, monitored, or used as political ammunition.
“Criticize me. Question my record. Disagree with my positions. That comes with seeking public office. But leave my wife, my children, and the rest of my family alone. Following a family, tracking children’ whereabouts, and invading their privacy is not political accountability. It is disturbing, cruel, and downright sick.”
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